Kiss Hell interview With Peter Criss

KISS HELL (Joe D.): How does it feel to be back in KISS?
PETER CRISS: Well it's funny, maybe it's like winning the rock & roll lottery! I just never thought I'd be back with the guys. I learned never to say never, that's one word I don't use anymore because I would become a big hypocrite so it's amazing. I feel like I'm back where I belong. where I always should have been anyway, that's kinda my deal it's like I'm right back in my old seat again.

KH: How do you feel about just completing the biggest & most successful KISS tour ever?
PC: I'm happy to be home! I'm talking to you from my home and I'm like major brown cause I live right on the ocean so I'm really dark and I'm walking around in shorts and it's nice to be home man! We were out for longer than a year and it's probably the biggest high I've ever been on so I'm glad we're off now cause I think we all needed time to get our brains back together again!

KH: Why do you think this tour went over so well with the fans? Did you expect it to be this big?
PC: I don't know, I guess everything is timing, I'm a firm believer of that as a drummer obviously but I just think that the time was perfect. I don't knock new bands, I like a lot of the stuff out today. I like a lot of it and I don't like a lot of it and it's my preference and I've found a lot of the music for me, when someone's singing about suicide and heroin and like it's a drag being up there and let's get a revolution goin, I don't get it man you know I don't buy that. I always thought that the time on stage that I get to perform for my fans is really precious time and it's a great time because the best time for me when we were out there was the two hours we played every night. My best two hours of the day was on stage because I saw people from 1 to 100 forgetting their problems that were wearing KISS t shirts and KISS makeup and it was like a party again. I really believe that the world needed to get out of this, because the worst thing is a musician or a quote unquote 'rock star' who makes it and he starts quoting you what he thinks life is about and what he thinks politics are about-that's bullshit. Noone really knows you just kinda try to do what's right and wrong I think. For me I'm just trying to play my heart out. I'm playing my heart out and I'm seeing now that a whole new generation's really digging us.

KH: Will there deifinitely be a new studio album coming out from you guys (the original band)?
PC: I don't know, right now as we speak they're negotiating that. They're negotiating on a record and we're just kinda sitting tight and we were told to kind of relax and enjoy ourselves cause we worked so hard and we've got some time off. I mean I haven't seen my girl in a month and she lives in New Jersey and she's coming to L.A. with me. There is definite talk of a CD absolutely all four of us are in definite favor of going in to do one, we all wanna do one. It's been a long time since we've done one together and I personally believe that the best KISS album hasn't been done yet and we're better musicians and we're wiser and we're much more focused so I would gather it with that energy alone right there. Our reunion was a major success and a major event in rock & roll history, I think the album would be fuckin' kick ass!

KH: Has the band started writing any songs for the album yet?
PC: Well I've got songs I'm sure we all got songs and it's just a matter of if they're the right songs for the right concept whatever that may be. In the albums we were always firm believers of the real concept like the Love Gun album we had guns that popped and and it always had something to do with it, something about the album always had a great concept to it, right down to Destroyer to all of them and I think the same with this album. We were talking about it towards the end of the tour that you gotta have the classic KISS sound, you must have that cause we don't wanna do something really difficult or intricate we wanna stay as simple KISS as possible yet it still has to be really good and knockout as much as my favorites like "Black Diamond" down to "Watchin' You", "Strutter" and all those songs. It would still have to have that but with a whole new attitude and I think that's not so easy. It's easier to say it than to do it. We've proved ourselves on stage to the world but we wanna prove it on CD. Seeing what we did already man we're miracle workers!

KH: Do you think the new technology will affect the classic KISS sound?
PC: We wanna stick as close to KISS as possible and don't wanna lose that energy. It's funny when I listen back to our stuff we had this really loose, yet incredible energy sound. There was so much energy in our music and yet there was still the thick chords or the thick drum fills that I would throw in, these jazz drum fills I was doing at the time. I was throwing marching stuff in rock & roll when nobody was even trying that so we wanna capture that again and I think today you can't go wrong with the new sound systems and especially Ace is like computer brainwashed. He's the computer maniac of the band. He came up with the morph at the end of the KISS show so he's really into it. I think it's gonna be dynamite.

KH: How do you feel about the new KISS action figures?
PC: I love it! I get a big thrill out of it. I didn't think I'd get off on it. It was like okay here comes these stupid dolls again like our Barby dolls we had which I hated and these are so cool. I mean Tod McFarlane is no flash in the pan, especially with that new Spawn movie that's out. Spawn is huge for him so to know he's the guy who did our things, I'm really flattered and he did it incredible they're really cool! I gotta go in myself in a few days and pick up my four guys (laughs) it's like I want my four action figures and my daughter wants hers and my girlfriend wants hers so everybody wants em but I think they're very cool.

KH: So you like these way more than the 1978 (Mego) dolls?
PC: Oh yeah! You know, mine has this cool drum that shoots these battle axes out and the ones back then were like Ken and Barby, that was chump.

KH: I've got the new ones & yours is probably my favorite one.
PC: Ha Ha! Excellent! Thankyou.

KH: Towards the end of the tour you had your own guitar picks made. How did you get the idea to make your own picks?
PC: Well it was actually my drum tech. Eddie Cannon who got that idea. We were up there one night and he says you know Cat whenever you go out and take your bows he said you don't have nothing to give the fans, you never have nothing to give them, because they abandoned throwing drumsticks out and the drumsticks I use are very expensive and they're specially made for me, for my arms since I have carbo syndroms in my right arm and my left elbow and it's really bad so these sticks are really weighed out for me and they're just perfectly balanced and they're very expensive. They're changable so that's why I never throw or give them out because it's just not like that so we really felt like there's something we gotta do and Eddie came in one day and he said here's a big bag of picks I made up for you and I go wow these are really cool let's do em in green so we did em and then I would start giving em out to ya and I felt kinda cool cause I was one of the first drummers to give out guitar picks!

KH: Do you play any guitar at all?
PC: Yeah I'm sloppy though but I have a beutiful collection. I've got some great guitars. Ace gave me a beutiful Les Paul and the band way back when it was one of my birthdays they gave me a Les Paul signature way back then so I've got some nice guitars but I play sloppy. I'm more like it just comes out of my head and I gotta sing it to a guitar player or hum it to em and that's the way I write.

KH: I hear there may be plans to re-release "Out Of Control" & "Let Me Rock You" on CD. Is that true at all?
PC: That would be cool! It would be okay with me. It's really old stuff, it's like outdated stuff I would imagine but there were some pretty good players on there and at the time a lot of people wrote some nice stuff for me, even Gene wrote a song for me ("Feel Like Heaven") and Steve Stevens and there was a ot of people writing. It was some cool stuff for its day, for now it's just outdated.

KH: Which of your solo album did you enjoy the most or which is your favorite solo album?
PC: I guess the first one.

KH: Really? "I Can't Stop the Rain" is a real classic I think.
PC: I get a lot of compliments on that song man and it really is funny through all the years that have gone by, that's the tune that people still say 'Jesus that is one great ballad.' For anything on that album and for all the songs I wrote there was a lot of meaning behind 'em from "Don't Let Me Down" and all that type of stuff. I was showing my Beatles roots and my R&B roots, it was my favorite album from "Out Of Control" to "Let Me Rock You" even through the last CRISS album I did on that small label TNT but you know the first time is always the best.

KH: Going back to '73, can you tell us how you came up with your Cat character & makeup?
PC: I don't know, I mean Gene was obviously destined to be the monster of the band, he really loved monster and horror movies and Ace loved the space stuff, he was like the starman of the band, all the guys felt that Paul would be the center guy. It was hard for me and I was sitting at home, and we're all really good artists, and I was just scetching and scetching and I had this black tom cat, big old cat, and I started adding his face structure to my structure and started painting in the whiskers and I tried it at rehearsal one time and everybody was like 'wow that's great! that fits you.'

KH: Do you think you relate to cats? Was that part of it?
PC: Yeah, I'm kinda like very domestic yet I'm really not, I'm still an alley cat. I still like to rumble but I'm not domestic. I'm a funny guy, I will either love you or I'll hate you, there's no in between with me and I don't believe in lying or stealing, that's a far thing from me. I'm really great around certain people and then if you rub me wrong you'll know about it pretty fast. I'm a real straight guy, I'm a straght shooter. I don't care for phonies, I don't like for people to bullshit me.

KH: Why is your drum kit smaller now than the kits you played in the '70's?
PC: Actually now there's only one less drum than my old drums. Believe it or not it's only one less drum so it's really not. Instead of three in the front I've got two in the front. I've gotten used to two in the front over the 17 years I've been away from the guys. I got this really big ride, I like to ride on a big, big ride cymbal and I got into that habit and I couldn't just change it overnight cause I'm getting back with KISS and all the sudden raise it to 20 pieces and put another drum there, I would've played like shit, so it's only one less drum.

KH: Do you feel that less is more sometimes musically with drums?
PC: I play all the drums I've got up there, I mean everything I've got I do hit but sometimes absolutley less is more, sometimes less is the best. Pretty much I'm always on the bass drum, high hat & snare. I'm not a double bass drum guy and KISS has always been a straight-forward one bass drum band and I've always made sure that the time is right, and that is pretty simple when you're not playing much.

KH: How would you compare the latest KISS tour to the tours you did in the 70's?
PC: Oh my god! Well we worked harder, we worked more, more shows. We had our own jet-we nicknamed it Ralph, so we had our own jet & that made things a lot easier of course, even though in the earlier days we've had our own jet but this jet we've kept through everything. Every show was huge, everything was sold out way ahead of time-we did 4 nights at the Garden, we did 3 nights at the Forum, it's like now it's way over 3 million people we've played for. 72,000 in Donnigton, a stadium in England. We couldn't go wrong. It seemed everything we did was homeruns and it wasn't like that in the old days. We didn't even need an opening act half the time because noone really gave a shit as long as we were there and that was really the truth. I could feel the roar of the crowd in my dressing room half the times, just starting my way down the ramp-the insanity was just amazing! It's like we were bigger now than we were then.

KH: How do you feel about the fans being so dedicated after so many years?
PC: You gotta love it, you gotta love the KISS Army. Without the fans and the KISS Army I wouldn't be where I am today and I live a really comfortable life. I've got money, I've got my health, I've got everything a guy could want but I don't let that go to my head. I realise without the KISS Army and the KISS fans KISS would be nowhere and that'll show you something; we will have been together almost 25 years this year and for people to be with us for 25 years is a long time. When you talk about dedication I don't really know of any other bands who've had fans like KISS.

KH: What do you think of some of the KISS tribute albums that have come out?
PC: I love it and I think it's a great compliment anytime anybody imitates you or looks like you or sounds like you. It's a huge form of flattery I think. I see these tribute bands and it blows my mind and I hear these huge acts today that have covered our songs and it blows my mind cause I've met so many of these guys from White Zombie to Anthrax to like Metallica and Aerosmith, they've all come backstage kinda like 'we're not worthy' like 'you guys rule!' very cool.

KH: Why wasn't the set list changed around more during the last tour?
PC: We did (change it) for Europe actually. It was just that we felt it was really hitting homeruns and it was a really good show and everybody really knew their parts right down to the guy who does the smoke. It's almost a precision run show and we didn't wanna change it much because sometimes if it's not broke why fix it?

KH: Were there any songs you would've liked to have played?
PC: Well I would like to do "Hard Luck Woman." We have so many songs it's so hard to say that.

KH: Did the band do any writing on the road?
PC: I don't know what they had. I did a lot of lyrics, I'm starting to collect 'em back up cause I didn't even realise I wrote 'em some nights and I was going 'wow they're pretty good', I'm starting to collect 'em now. We haven't even been home a month, I'm still taking stuff out of suitcases, everytime my cleaning lady comes to my home there's like more stuff around so I'm still not really settled.

KH: From what I've heard you guys did a soundcheck at almost every show & I was wondering what kinds of things the band would usually play during soundchecks?
PC: We would always play "Deuce" and "Love Gun" and maybe I'd go through "Beth", definitely a little bit of "God Of Thunder." Always pretty much "Deuce" & "Love Gun" for checking the harmonies, those were pretty much the best songs, and Paul was flying towards the end so he had to check his (flying) rig, so those would pretty much be the things at soundcheck.

KH: What usually goes on backstage when you're putting on your makeup? Do you do anything to get warmed up psysically?
PC: I do now, I wish I would've did it when I was younger and I wouldn't have so much trouble maybe with my arms and I wouldn't have had to miss a show and now I do play on a pad before we go on. First I soak my arms in hot water and I work out 10 minutes on a pad. For a KISS day: nobody puts a day in like KISS. A KISS day starts for us like wake up at 12 o' clock and then around 1:30 to 3:00 we'd maybe do a bunch of phoners (interviews) in our rooms and then we have to split the hotel and get in the car, get on the jet, get off the jet & get into another car, go to the gig, do soundcheck, eat, and by the time that went on and then whatever else was happening and then by the time the show would be finished we'd get back to the car, get back to the jet. I would get to bed at like 2-3 or 4 in the morning sometimes and that was pretty much what a KISS day was like. From like 1 o' clock in the afternoon to 2 in the morning we'd never stop. I don't think there's a band in this world that could do that! Really (laughs) and we're older and we're in great shape but to keep such a grueling schedule like that I don't see it. A lot of these guys just kinda walk onstage in their pajamas and they looked like they had played in my swimming pool! KISS is not like that. We prepare, we believe it's like going out to battle.

KH: When you started playing drums, what were some of your favorite and most influential drummers?
PC: Well definitely Gene Krupa, I think him and Buddy Rich were the big drummers when I was a kid. I was a little boy and my father used to have all their albums and I just thought these guys were awesome and finally when I got into rock & roll drumming I liked Charlie Watts and not that many people think he's great but I love Charlie Watts. I think he's great. I've always dug John Bonham. I was influenced a lot by Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and definitely Mitch Mitchell so those were a lot of influences on me.

KH: What do you remember the most about getting that first phone call from Gene back in 1973 (to join KISS)?
PC: I had a party at my moms. There was a bunch of people there and I'd left my band Chelsea close to a year to that. We were on Decca and we didn't make it so there was a whole misery to that and I was looking to make it again and I'm glad it all happened actually and it worked out for the best, and this maniac (Gene) called me, and this guy's at the other end of the line asking me these really blatant questions you know: 'are you good looking?', 'do you have long hair?', 'what color eyes do you have?' 'what's your influences?' I mean putting me through this major degree of stuff and I thought 'who does this guy think he is?' 'Am I good looking? Am I Cute?, am I bald?' and he just went on and on and it was funny to Gene but he knew what he wanted I gotta respect him for that. He didn't want no jerk off coming in there, they said they didn't want some audition with a maniac they just wanted to get right to the point and I'm glad cause I didn't wanna audition with other jerk offs either.

KH: Are there any plans to ever do another KISS Convention tour in the future?
PC: Right now I think we're just concentrating on the CD and preferably a summer tour next year and then I think maybe after all is said and done and we're all tired of doing the classic KISS I could see us going out without the makeup and having a really good time, I could see that but it's definitely not close.

KH: With the KISS original chemistry back it seems like Paul & Gene have found new appreciations in playing with yourself & Ace again. Do you have any new appreciations from playing with Gene & Paul again?
PC: Well I appreciate them in a different way now. We all have kids now, there's a big difference right there and it's funny cause a lot of people get a kick out of hearing us talk about our kids, talking about 'how's your house coming?' but pretty much everyday stuff. It seems like we're more family guys now and we've all really grown up a lot and we really enjoy each others company . We laugh a lot and we make fun of each other inconsistantly, noone else is allowed to do that though only we would do it to each other and there's still this major bond and I don't know if it's been there ever since I was a kid with these guys, it seems like there's something magical about the four of us when we walk into a room. I'm told that people just freak out. Something about our aura that we have that I really agree that we didn't have it alone but when I'm with the four of us it's a magical thing so we know that now and I think we're really grateful.

Roughcut Interview with Gene Simmons

roughcut.com's Andy Jones: How did you get involved in Detroit Rock City, besides the obvious connection?
Gene Simmons: Well, it's either that or working for a living. KISS is always accused of being manipulative in its intent, as opposed to just going out there and doing whatever it feels. And I will grant you that that is exactly what we are. We actually sit around thinking, "How can we do this better? How can we make this bigger? How can we do a better show?" But it doesn't end there, because KISS is -- should be -- all things to all people. I'd like to think that religion doesn't have one on us and I prefer to have KISStianity as a matter of fact. Has a certain ring to it, doesn't it?

What's your function in KISStianity?
I would be god.

Coming from a nice Jewish background?
Why should the world worship that other guy? He's Jewish, too. What's he got? So, in terms of manipulation, never leave home without it. (Holds up a KISS Visa card.)

In time for the movie?
No, that came out about six months ago. So far, the most exciting thing about it is that every single time one of the people who buys it, uses it, I get pennies from heaven. Isn't that the best? So, if you had a choice about being in a band, I mean, if it's just about music and getting up there and strumming your guitar, I'm snoring. You know, to me, KISS is all things because almost anything I can imagine doing, KISS is a perfect vehicle for it. For instance, I wanted to do a comic book, so -- Presto! -- we're superheroes. That was in the '70s. We fought Captain America, Spiderman, all those guys. And we flew through the air -- spit fire -- did all that. And then in the new versions of the comic books that I set up with Todd McFarlane's Image Comics, KISS Psycho Circus Comics, was sort of an elemental force -- earth, wind, fire, water kind of forces. And we sort of appear. We're magic. We can do that, too. Onstage, we're a rock 'n' roll band. That's fine. On any toy, on credit cards, you don't see guitars on the Visa card -- the KISS Visa card -- we're a Visa card. We can be anything we want to be and other bands can't.

What do you think you represent to people now? People who didn't grow up with you guys?
[I] don't care. Never got into that. And I'll tell you why. Because there's such a thing as being subjected to and believing your own press and becoming that much more delusional. I mean, I have enough. I look in the mirror and I actually think I'm better looking than I am. I'm much bigger than I really am. You know, in my mind. I'm it. It helps when you get up onstage, because there are a lot of artists who get up on stage who throw up, get jitters. I can't wait to get out there, because that's my solace.
When I get up on stage, I'm god, I am the king, because I can burp, fart, do anything you want and they go, "Yeah." Offstage, you got a nose hair sticking out of there, and it's that sort of subatomic gaze that everybody looks at you offstage with, that makes you aware that this is serious. When it's onstage, there's the comfort of having... it might as well be your mother's arms around you. Anything you do is fine. It's perfect. And so instead of lying down on a psychiatrist's couch, I can be up on stage and get paid for it. Do the show, and then go back to the hotel and do as many encores as I think I can physically bear.

Ace Frehley said earlier this year that he was going to quit on New Year's Eve, after the gig.
Somebody else will take his place.

That's what's going to happen?
No. There's always been Ace, from Day One. A loose cannon. And that's part of what makes him great -- a unique personality. Ace was the same guy who in the early '80s, wanted to have his own solo career. And we said, "Have your own solo career. Don't leave the band." "No, no, I've got to find happiness. I'm leaving the band." So, he left the band; had a solo career. See ya at bankruptcy court. And then later on, came back to the band. [He] said, "I'm straight, I'm ready to go back to work." And every once in a while, the old demons sort of raise their heads. But Ace never, ever does anything malicious to anybody else. I'll have to say that he's a pure soul and I'm the same guy who said during the off years, when we weren't talking to each other, that he was a knucklehead. Anybody who gets high or drinks or smokes is an idiot. Whether it's your mom, dad, or somebody you never met. If you decide to smoke, "Oh, but I can't stop," you're a moron. Because it says so right there, you, jackass, you are going to die. Right there on the side. And so style or anything else, notwithstanding, you're a moron. And I said that to him. If you can't love yourself enough to control yourself, how can we, the band, expect you to love us and respect us? And, of course, how can the fans expect you to give anything? It really starts with yourself.

In the movie kids smoke pot. Are you worried about the message it might send?
No. I prefer to lead my own lifestyle, practice what I preach. Preachers tell us, "Don't do this, don't do that," and then molest our children in the basement....

You taught kids once.
Sixth grade.

KISS seems like an odd path to end up on.
No. Not really. It's the way women are with and without makeup. I mean, when you're without your makeup, you feel a certain way. We all have our sort of Emperor's clothes moments where we think, "Gee, without this other thing, I can't get by." But when you put your makeup on, all of a sudden, you have more power and you can look somebody right in the face. Paint has always been a powerful weapon, used by shamans -- first by men, incidentally. Women were not allowed to wear makeup until Cleopatra because it was a power and men used it for going to war, for theatrical displays, for religious rites and so on. And all these magic people who had touch with either spirits, ghosts, gods, you name it, all put on makeup.

Why did the blood and fire become part of the act?
It's been said before, better than I -- that the whole world's a stage. And so, when we get up there, it's our job to make a complete spectacle out of ourselves. What it all means is sort of beside the point. I mean, you can be looking at a Fourth of July fireworks display and everybody can look up and say, "Wow! Look at that." One person, of course, taking notes will say, "Yes. But what does it all mean?" We could sort of be academic about it but that's like contemplating your navel. It's never going to go anywhere.

Director Adam Rifkin has said a lot of the memorabilia for the movie came from your personal collection.
All of it. I collect everything.

Why?
I'm delusional. I am my own biggest fan. I'm sure if I lay down on somebody's couch at a high price -- it sounds like the boudoir all of a sudden, but I'm thinking about a shrink -- they could tell me that it means this, it means that. I was an only child, still am. So, I'm sure a lot of it has to do with wanting attention and sort of getting everything you ever dreamed of. I've always been aware [of history]. As a matter of fact, my mother has, too. She's got every report card, every piece of paper, any test I've ever taken, any toilet paper I've ever wiped with. It's all still there.

You have two children.
Two children that I know of, [they're] 10 and 7. One of each.

I suspect you don't put too many limits on what they see or hear.
You are responsible for yourself. The world is out there, closing your eyes and ears to things is not going to work. I'm not going to push them to see horrific murders and so on, but I'm more concerned about [real] violence than about imaginary sort of visual or auditory imagery.

Music and movies have been blamed for kids going bad.
I think religion is much more to blame. I'm clearly aware that anything, any political religious system that espouses a difference between people -- we're the right ones; they're the wrong ones -- immediately brings something to mind, whether it's neighborhoods living in little clannish areas where people start to look and act the same way or whether it's a religious order that says we're the right way; they're the wrong way. It's still the might-is-right principle. Whereas Star Wars and Marilyn Manson and anything else is freeing, because you don't think of prototypes or types of people. It's just sort of imagination. It's no more, no less valued than the Brothers Grimm.

Could KISS have happened in the '90s?
I would have welcomed the opportunity to come out in the '90s to show all the little boys how the big boys do it. 'Cause all these pizza delivery guys running around on stage with guitars thinking that they can charge full price for what they do by jumping up and down. I mean, looking like a garage band is the height of insult -- not necessarily musically, I grant you. A lot of the music is very valid and powerful stuff. But I'm of the opinion that when you pay full price for a concert ticket, you want to use your eyes as well. That doesn't mean you have to spit fire and fly through the air -- which I do at shows -- but, I think the audience deserves more. And if you're going to go out there and do sort of a garage band show, charge garage band prices. That's fair.

But what are you, religiously?
I was born Jewish. I suppose whether I define myself as a Jew or not is beside the point because the world does. It's like whether or not you define yourself as black or not. It's not the point. You are black. I am Jewish. And you are whatever you are. The difference, though, is that the white Anglo-Saxon Protestant majority has a choice, there's a lot of leeway. The minorities have less of a choice of how they define themselves. The powers that be just say, you're that, that's all there is. In fact, if you have one-sixteenth or whatever it is... so I'm a Jew because I'm a Jew. That's what society tells me, because you're an accident of birth. Where you're born, who you are and what you are is an accident of birth. And I contend that that's still not who you are. There are males who are born male, who feel like females and vice versa. And there are racist families who have children who don't feel that way. And I don't believe that just because you come out of your mother's womb that you are then, of course, simply a carbon copy of that. I don't espouse that philosophy. I believe that we are all complete individuals.

To get back to your acting a bit...
I'm acting right now.

I know. Are you thinking of doing some more film work?
Yeah. I have a short moment. This summer I'll be acting in a movie called, Wish You Were Dead with Cary Elwes and other people. I play an Italian hairdresser.

How much of a role did you have in the movie?
Unfortunately, it's pretty much my ball, my court, so I sort of set the rules. And I have the most to lose. And so does KISS, because if the sense of it and the vibe of it is wrong, it hurts KISS. And like Disney, I try and protect all things KISS. So, it was very important that the feeling of the movie was that KISS were sort of heroic, sort of figures, as opposed to heroin-induced losers. Sid & Nancy would not be a movie I would want to make about KISS, because it tears down the ideal of The Sex Pistols and makes you think, "What a bunch of losers."

Would you ever do a more documentary-based history of the band?
That's being planned right now.

Would you play yourselves?
Probably not. Not today.

Who would you want to play you in the movie?
Oh, Tom Cruise.

On a realistic level.
On a realistic level? Bette Midler as Gene Simmons.

Did you like Velvet Goldmine?
No. I'm always aware that these people are actors. At the very least I'd say, '"What a good job of acting." But I'm always aware they're not a band. Bands don't walk, talk, smell or look like that. They're closer to hobos. What I mean by that is that there's a sense of a kind of aimlessness -- there's a lost quality. When you see Willie Nelson talking, you know that the road is forever. So, when I see these guys, they seem very grounded, secure in themselves and so on. I don't know if you've ever seen interviews with nomads or gypsies, it's an entirely different sense of self. You know, you have a connection to a place. Bands don't have a connection to a place. So, they usually don't carry watches, for one thing. If you see a guy on the road, and he's looking at his watch... What are you looking at your watch for? You don't know what day it is, you don't know what time it is. You don't know where you are and you don't know where you're going.

Is that why so many bands get into drugs?
I love that bands get into drugs. I wish every band was on heroin. I want them all to die and get out of my way. Get out of my way. I want more. I love that Jerry Garcia was on heroin and died; it's great. Kurt Cobain wants to shoot himself in the head, God bless. Get the f--k out of my way. And I'll tell you why. I have no sympathy for anybody who is privileged and decides to off themselves. That's not tragic. That's a choice. You have a choice. If you are being tortured someplace or you get run over by a car, that's tragic, because you don't have a choice in life. If you are a privileged person, you're rich, usually white, which means that you have the advantages of the white power structure... How come it's always white guys on top of skyscrapers, "The world is terrible. I've got two cars. I'm going to kill myself?" You never see a black guy on top of a ghetto neighborhood saying, "It's a racist world, I'm going to kill myself." You never see that. How come? And it's just merely an observation. I'm not condemning anybody. I hate everybody equally, incidentally.

Why did you choose to change your name?
That's not my name. I want choices. We're all given religions, names, nationalities, stuff.... When you get to choose, I mean, the few things you get to choose are your lip color and your hair color and how high your shoes are going to be. That's not enough for me. I want to choose my name, where I live, who I socialize with. I want to have my own life, my own identity. So, this idea that women give up their last names and become somebody else's last name or that you go through life with your names -- that's not yours. Before you were even born, "What do you think we should call him? Hiram. Let's call him Hiram." And this poor guy has to go defend himself for the rest of his life because his name's Hiram. Now I'm going to get in trouble with Hirams.

Gene Simmons Chat Transcript

Question: Gene, who was your role model when you were a kid? You are my role model.
Gene Simmons: I could give the funny answer, but a better one would be the honest answer. The answer is my mother, a human being who personifies the best in ethics, morality and perseverance. They're all big words, and all of them mean she kicks ass.

Question: Did you enjoy producing DRC? Was it more enjoyable to be in the control seat than as an actor?
Gene Simmons: They're two totally different animals. Being one myself, one must learn to gauge the give and take of attack and bluff. Producing is mostly a dynamic involving people skills and involves usually selling ice cubes to Eskimos. In other words, you have to convince everybody that what you're about to tell them is exactly what they need.

Question: Is it true Jesus grew his hair long after seeing KISS in concert?
Gene Simmons: Yes, like all good Jewish boys, he did, in fact.

Question: Gene, do you think a new rock band today that has an '80s hard rock sound would work in today's market?
Gene Simmons: No.

Question: What is the latest word on the possibility of an animated KISS project, and where might we see it occur?
Gene Simmons: I'm finalizing the last stages of a deal to bring "KISS Psycho Circus," a Saturday morning cartoon show, alive on Fox even as we speak.

Question: I was wondering when a new album was coming out and if there will be a tour?
Gene Simmons: There will absolutely be a tour in the year 2000. Before then, on the 23rd of August, KISS will debut The Demon, a wrestler wearing Gene Simmons makeup, on "Monday Night Nitro" on all Turner stations nationwide. The event will happen in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand on August 23rd. KISS will perform "God of Thunder" and The Demon will be born.

Question: Who did you inherit the tongue from?
Gene Simmons: When I was born, the doctor pulled me out by the wrong appendage.

Question: Will the new KISS song "Nothing Can Keep Me From You" be released as a single?
Gene Simmons: The single is now making the rounds of radio stations. That's the first step. If radio responds, then it will, indeed, be released as a single.

Question: Anything special planned for New Year's Eve this year?
Gene Simmons: Yes, but I can't talk about it right now. Between "Detroit Rock City," the WCW wrestler, the KISS star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the KISS cartoon show, "Rock and Roll All Night," a CBS Movie of the Week, plus the upcoming tour, there's certainly enough to talk about... before I talk about anything else.

Question: What was it like playing a role in which you were allowed almost back in time to the '70s?
Gene Simmons: It didn't suck.

Question: What is your favorite song to perform, and has the band always gotten along well all these years?
Gene Simmons: Favorite song to perform is "Deuce." Anybody, team, family or any other kind of group that says they always get along are liars of the highest degree. In fact, all groups of peoples disagree [at] times. KISS is probably no different than your family. You argue like cats and dogs, but blood is thicker than water. KISS is family. I can be angry with my brother, but if you say anything about him, I'll kill you.

Question: What made the band decide to go back to the makeup?
Gene Simmons: KISS is the only band that has this multiple personality thing. We are both Clark Kent and Superman rolled into one. KISS had a huge career wearing makeup, and we had a huge career without makeup. Having said all of the above, Superman is still cooler than Clark Kent.

Question: Are you alone, or is the band sitting there with you?
Gene Simmons: I'm not alone, but the band is not here.

Question: Who do you think is a hot band out right now?
Gene Simmons: There's a lot of very interesting music, but very few artists have a brain to go along with it. I think Manson is clever. He has a point of view which doesn't depend on anybody else, and I find that refreshing. Most other bands are either copying black rappers or prescribe to the "rock goes camping" philosophy, which means they look more at home climbing a mountain than being in a band. I like bands that piss on the ground and claim their turf.

EAMusic1: What's Ace's deal?
Gene Simmons: Ace is the single most unique human being I've ever met. He's like a brother to me. And at the same time, I've been angry at him like almost no one I've ever known. Ace and I flew into New York yesterday to do radio promotions. And, in case all of you are buzzing/gossiping, the God's honest truth is, Ace is well, happy, and, honestly, can't wait to get out there and back up on stage with KISS.

Question: Are all of you in the movie, and do you perform?
Gene Simmons: "Detroit Rock City," while it is about KISS, is nevertheless a movie more about four KISS fans. In some ways it's very Biblical. Imagine "The Ten Commandments." It's a story of a pilgrimage, it's a story of people believing in a philosophy, God, in this case. "Detroit Rock City" might be called KISStianity... a religion, if you will... a point of view, perhaps. It's really the story of four believers in the faith and their journey on the yellow brick road to Detroit Rock City. Oh, by the way, in this Biblical epic, KISS is God.

Question: When does the movie come out?
Gene Simmons: Friday the 13th nationwide. Please go -- my mother wants another house.

Question: I really enjoyed the "Second Coming" video. Anything else like that planned?
Gene Simmons: Yes. But if I start to tell you all the new stuff, it will make your head spin like the little girl in "The Exorcist."

Question: Do people recognize you without your makeup on?
Gene Simmons: Yes. I don't look Swedish.

EAMusic1: For all those wanting to know when KISS is going to be in your hometown, the tour will start in the year 2000.

Question: Do you plan on doing any more acting?
Gene Simmons: I'm acting right now. I will be acting in a film in September called "Wish You Were Dead." It will be directed by Valerie McCaffrey. And a second one in October called "Night Club" with, I'm told, Alec Baldwin and a number of other cameos.

Question: How many times have you set your hair on fire onstage while spitting fire?
Gene Simmons: Probably six or seven, over the course of 28 years.

Question: Do you think your music or films have had a good or bad impact on the young people of today?
Gene Simmons: It's not for me to say. I just work here.

Question: How big a part do you and the other members of KISS play in the new movie?
Gene Simmons: We play a pivotal role. No more or less important than the part the Wizard plays in "The Wizard Of Oz."

Question: When will the CBS movie be on?
Gene Simmons: It's being written now by Jeff Arch, who wrote "Sleepless in Seattle," based on a story of mine. It will be out in the winter on CBS.

Question: Is KISS going to be doing another Halloween concert this year?
Gene Simmons: Yes. Details are being worked out now. And, like all things KISS, we will make a complete spectacle of ourselves.

Question: How do you feel about your groupies?
Gene Simmons: I love groupies. The world is a better place with them. In fact, my second movie at New Line Cinema is actually called "Groupies," based on a story I wrote, script by Allison Anders and Kurt Voss.

Question: What would you say the greatest memory of being in KISS has been for you?
Gene Simmons: While it's true being onstage is a kick, there's nothing like doing the encores back at the hotel.

Question: How do you feel that after all these years KISS is still so popular? What do you attribute that to?
Gene Simmons: We live and die by the will of our fans. We work for you. You are our bosses.

Question: What other names did you think of besides KISS and how did you rule them out?
Gene Simmons: There were very few names seriously considered. KISS popped out of Paul Stanley's mouth in a car with Paul, Peter and myself in it. When we all heard it, we instinctively knew.

EAMusic1: Where are you now, Gene? Everyone wants to know.
Gene Simmons: I'm in New York City.

Question: Is your wife there?
Gene Simmons: I don't know how many times I have to spell it out for everybody, so here we go again. Now, listen carefully, all of you. Number one: I am not now married... I have never been married... I don't ever want to be married. Number two: Shannon Tweed and I have two kids. I am crazy about her. Number three: now all of you get this part and write it in your little KISS books... we are NOT married. The only thing wrong with marriage is that, usually, one of the two is a man.

Question: Will we see new costumes on the next tour?
Gene Simmons: Wait and see.

EAMusic1: Thank you, Gene!
Gene Simmons: Thank you.